Ignition system fob internal-combustion engines



sept. 15', 1925. 1,553,829

, M. MALLORY ET A L IGNITION SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed April 26, 1925 TRAVEL Y Patented Sept.` 15, 1925.

` 1,553,829. UNITED STAT-13sy PATENT OFFICE.-

MARION IALLOBY AND LUTHER EARL SEVIASON, OF TOLEDO, O HIO.

IGNITION sYsrEim ron INrEaNnL-comBUs'noN ENGINES.

Application led April 26, 1923. Serial No. 684,735.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that we, MARION MALLORY and LUTHER EARL SEvISoN, citizens -of the United States, and residents of Toledo,`in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have made an Invention Appertainin to an Ignition System for Internal-Com ustion Engines, which invention is fully set forth in the following specication.

The object of our invention is to produce a spark with substantially the same current form that exists in the secondary circuit of a high tension magneto, a current of great pressure and volume. As well understood by those skilled in the art itis necessary to quickly demagnetize the core of a spark coil to produce a current of great value in the secondary circuit for ignition purposes. In the usual spark coil it is impossible to produce a spark of great value for the reason that the magnetic lines decrease in density slowly, decreasing more slowly as the magnetic flux lowersl from the maximum density. This results in the c urrent in the secondary circuit weakening or dying before the core of the coil is completely demagnetized. To produce a spark from a spark coil that is equivalent to a high tension magneto spark, we have arranged a coil and means of reversing the polarity within its core which causes a rapid demagnetizing effect with practically the same principle involved as in a. high tension magneto, without the use of permanent magnets, rotating armatures, or inductors. In our coil the polarity ofthe core is reversed which is the quickest way to cause a sudden collapse of the magnetic lines. This action causes a current of great value to continue to flow in the secondary circuit as long as the magnetic lines are decreasing. By the reversing action produced-in the magnetic lines, the slow rate of demagnetization is avoided by the rapid reversal produced. Our invention overcomes the disadvantage found in the usual spark coil, as we do not rely onthe ma netic lines decreasing slowl as explained a ove. Moreover in our coil the rafpid change in the lines of force continue or a longer duration of time.

Devices of different forms may be used in the system containing our invention and the arts may be connected in different ways. o illustrate practical applications of the invention we have selected a system that contains the invention and shall describe it y hereinafter.

Figure 1 illustratesdiagrammatically the system. Fig. 2 indicates schematically the operations of the system.

Referring to the system in Fig. 1, 1 is a closed magnetic circuit type transformer. It is rovided with a primary coil 2 and a secon ary coil 13 on one side and an excit ing coil 3 on the opposite side. Coils 2 and 3 `are so wound that when current passes through them at the same time, magnetic lines are produced in the two sides of transformer which oppose each other with like poles at 16 and 17. y

The circuits of coils 2 and 3 are completed by switch Ltand circuit breakers 6 and 7. The circuit breakers are operated by cams 8 and 9 which are connected to distributer 10.

The cams 8 and 9 and the rotating element 11 of the distributer are driven by the crank shaft of the engine and the parts are adjusted so as to cause manipulation of the parts of the system at the proper predetermined times to ignite explosive mixtures of the cylinders of the engine by the reduction of sparks at the terminals o spark plu s 12. The secondary coil 13 is connected to t e rotating element 11 of the distributer and is thus connected to the spark plugs 12 in succession` as the rotating element 11 makes contact sequentially with the fixed contacts 21, in the manner well lmown in the art. The character of the spark producer in the spark plugs 12 depends upon, as is well known, the character of the current produced in the secondary coil 13 which in turn is dependent upon the changes of the magnetic flux, and, particularly, 'the rapidity of change of the magnetic flux within the coil 13.

The return of the circuits of the parts of the system is through rthe ound, that is, through the body of the englne or the frame of the automobile. A suitable condenser is connected to the contact 14 which is shown at 22. A condenser may also be 'connected to contact 15 in the same manner as the condenser 22 although it is not necessary.

Figure 2 indicates the closed and open periods of the circuits through the exciter coil 3 and the primary coil 2 and illustrates dia-A grammatically the operation of the system.

Assuming switch 4 is closed and cam 8 lias allowed circuit breaker 6 to close the primary circuit 2 at position indicated in chart in Fig. 2, the transformer 1 will be quickly built up to its maximum density, especially in winding' 2, because substantially all of the magnetic lines travel completely around the transformer core in one direction and do not have to pass through any air resistance. Thirteen degrees later in the rotation of travel of the cams 8 and 9 as indicated in Fig. 2, cam 9 allows circuitbreaker 7 to close exciter coil 3. The magnetic lines that'were set up in winding 3 by the winding 2 are now choked back, al-

though the magnetic lines in winding 2 still its maximum before the circuit in winding 3 was closed, and also because lwinding 2-is now a closed circuit coil. Approximately fiftyeone degrees later as illustrated in Fig. 2, cam 8 o ens circuit breaker 6 at position marked park. Winding 2 no longer opposes winding 3 andthe magnetic lines set up by winding 3 .increase its lines of force passing completely around the transormer and -reversing the polarity of the core in winding 2 which causes a rapid collapse of the magnetic lines that were set up -and maintained by winding 2, inducing a current in the secondary Winding 13 of great volume and pressure which is directed to a spark plug 12 by the distributor 10. Thirteen degreesl later, cam 9 opens the circuit of the exciter coil 3. By the time this circuit opens, the lines of force that were set up by winding 2 have been com letely forced to zero and have started to uild up in the opposite dii' rection by exciter coil 3. Consequently the magnetic lines are still changing in densityl when the circuit breaker 7 is opened whic prevents spark formation at contact 15. It

is essential that circuit breaker 7 does not` remain closed long enough after circuit breaker 6 has o ened, to build up the core within tlie 'winding 2, to its maximum density, or if the circuit breaker 7 was opened at the time the flux was at its maximum there would be excessive sparking at contact 15. lHowever, the arrangements and adjustments of circuit breakers 6 and 7 Vand cams 8 and 9 may be varied considerably from Figs. 1 and 2 and still get the proper results. The degrees of opening and closure of the circuits indicated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 have beei used only for purposes oi illustration aund consequently` may be varied within the purview of the novelty of our invention.

We claim:

1. In a spark coil having a core of magnetic material, exciting and primary coils for producing opposing magnetic fluxes in the core, a. secondary coil surrounding the primary coil, means for opening and closing the primary coil and exciting coil, the said means operating to open the primary coil in advance of the opening of the exciting coil.

2. In a spark coil having a core of inagnetic material,l exciting and primary coils vfor producingppposing magnetic iiuxes in the core, a secondary fcoil surrounding the primary coil, the primary coil and exciting coil, the said means operating lto open'the primary coil in advance of the opening of the exciting coil, the exciting coil being opened during the open period of lthe primary coil.

3. In a spark coil having a core of magnetic material, exciting and primary lcoils for producing opposing magnetic fluxes in thei core, a secondary coil surrounding the primary coil, means for opening and closing the -primary coil and exciting coil, the said means operating to open the 'primary coil in vadvance of the opening of the exciting coil, the exciting coil being opened during the open period of the primary coil, and the primary coil being closed while the exc1t, ing coil is open. v

4. In a spark coil having a core of magnetic material, exciting and primary coils for producing opposing magnetic fluxes thecore, a secondary coil surrounding the primary coil, means -or opening and closing means for openingland closing the primary coil and exciting coil,'the said means operating to open the primaryy coil in advance of the opening of the exciting coil, the exciting coil being opened duringthe open period of the primary coil, the exciting coil being subsequently closed.

5. In angignition spark coil, a .core or magnetic material, a4 pair of exciting c oils located on different portions of the said core,

a source of direct current and a pair of circuit closers for connecting the exciting coils with the source-of direct current and wound and connected to produce opposing1 magnetic fluxes in different portions of t e said core, a secondary coil located in inductive relation to one of the said exciting coils,

means for operating the circuit closers to close the circuit of oneof lthe exciting coils to establish a magnetic lu/x in one direction in the magnetic core and'subsequently closing the circuit of the other exciting coil -to produce a magnetic flux in opposite direc,-v tions in the magnetic core and subsequently' disconnecting the exciting coil first connected to quickl deenergize theportioii of i the core on whic the coil thus'disconnected is located and then subsequently establishto `the source of direct current to sai core and in a direction oppositeto that 4in the portion of the core onl which the disconnected exciting coil is located and subse` quently deenergizing the said core.

6. In an ignition system, a source of direct current, a spark'oil having a core of magnetic material and energizing coil and a primary coil located on diferentportions of the said core, a lsecondar coil in direct inductive relationship to t e rimary coil, a circuit closer for connecting t e primary coil roduce i magnetic lines in one direction wit in the cor, a circuit closer for connecting the energizing coilfwith the said source to produce opposing mafgnetic lines of force in the core and means or disconnecting mary coil from the said source whlle the opposing ields exist.

7 4In a spark coil having magnetic material, a source o a core of current, ex-

' come ni the prip citing and primary coils for producing magnetic fluxes in opposite directions 1n the core, a secondary coil surrounding the rimary coil, circuit breakers for control ing the circuits 'of the primary coil and exciting coilk to sequentially open and close the circuits ofthe said coilsto establish a magnetic flux in one directionby connecting one coil with the source of current and then setting up an opposing flux by connecting the other coil with the circuit when the change of flux' roduced by the first coil has beand then disconnecting the first coil to permit the flux established by the second coil to pass through the portion of the core on which the secondary coil is 1ocated.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names-to this specification.

LUTHER EARL SEVISON. MARION MALLORY. 

